Electric-arc lamp



(No Model.)

J. A. MOSHBB..

ELECTRIC ARG LAMP.

No. 573,830. Patented Dec. 2.2, 1896.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

JOI-IN A. MOSI-IER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE ADAMS & WESTLAKE COMPANY, OF ILLINOIS.

ELECTRIC-ARC LAM P.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 573,830, dated December 22, 1896. Application filed October 22, 1896. Serial No. 609,755. (No model.)

To all whom it' may concern.'

Be it known that I, JOHN A. MOSHER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric-Arc Lamps; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to the Aregulating mechanism of an arc-lamp of the type known as giavityfeed,7 its object being to secure simplicity of construction with high efficiency; and it consists in a chain or cable hung over a sheave and carrying at its ends the two carbon holders, the upper one of which is superior in weight to the lower, so that by its descent it raises the lower-carbon; a ratchetwheel mounted in conjunction with the sheave; a spring-controlled pawl for coperating with the ratchet-wheel and mounted upon a rocklever; a solenoid the coil of which is in series with the are for actuating the pawl, so as to separate the carbons, a retractile spring for acting in opposition to the solenoid, and various parts and karrangement of parts, as hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of the lamp, some of the parts being broken away to show the internal construction. Fig. 2 is a side elevation transverse to the direction of view of Fig. l; and Fig. 3 is a central internal section of the solenoid, taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. l.

The lamp shown in the drawings is of the type commonly known as the inclosed-arc lamp, the tips of the carbons x y entering a globe Z of diaphanous material. ture, however, forms no part of the invention claimed in this application.

The frame of the lamp consists of the tw vertical arms A A, pendent from a plate B, upon which the regulating mechanism is mounted, and joined by a pair of cross-arms a d in vertical alinement, between which is secured the arc-inclosing envelop A pair This feaof vertical guide-rods C C is mounted between the plate B andthe upper cross-bar a', the holder D of the upper carbon running upon these rods and being suspended from one end of a chain or cable E. A similar pair of vertical guide-rods c c is pendent from the lower cross-arm a', and the holder d for the lower carbon y slides upon these rods and is suspended from the opposite end of the chain or cable E by means of a rod c.

The chain or cable E is hung upon a sheave F, which is journaled in a pair of floor-hangers ff, mounted upon the plate B by means of the shaft f. A ratchet-wheel H is iiXed upon the shaft f'.

A helix K is mounted upon the plate B and is in series with the lamp, one of its ends 7tbeing connected with one of the terminals M of the main line and its other end 7o being electrically connected with the frame of the lamp through the plate B and thence with the lower carbon by means of the flexible connection k2, leading from the lower end of one of the arms A to the carbon-holder d. The other terminal M of the main line is eonnected with the upper carbon-holder D by means of the flexible connection m, leading from a binding-posten', secured to but insulated from the plate B and in electrical connection with the terminal M. Some of the wires leading through the head of the lamp are shown in the drawings as being insulated by being inclosed within rubber tubing.

A rocklever O is fulcrumed upon a shaft o', journaled in the upper ends of the iioorhangers f j", and at one end carries a core 0, which enters the helix K, forming therewith a solenoid. The opposite end of the rocklever O is secured to a retractile spring P, which is attached to the plate B and is pro` vided with a simple form of turnbuckle p, by means of which its tension may be adj usted. Alateral arm Q projects downwardly from the shaft upon which the rock-lever O is fulcrumed, and is in fixed relation to this lever. The arm Q is extended laterally toward each end of the rock-lever O, and to one of these extensions a ratchet-pawl R is 'pivotally attached, the opposite end of the pawl being provided with an arm r, which normally rests upon a stud q, set in the side ot' the opposite extension ot' the arm Q, and held in contact therewith by means of a leal'- spring S, secured to the shaft 0l, and bearing against the upper side of the arm 0'.

iVhen the lamp is eut out from the circuit, the spring I draws the core o out of the helix l and throws the pawl It out of engagement with the ratehet-wheel II. lVhen the current is turned onto the lamp, it energizesthe helix II, which draws down the core o and brin the pawl It into engagement with the ratcl1et\vl1eel Il, so as to rotate the latter and thereby raises the carbon ,fr and lowers the carbon y, establishing an arc between these two electrodes. The weakening of the current by an undue elongation of the are weakens thehold oi' the helix upon the core and permits the spring l to raise the latter, thereby moving the pawl R in the opposite direction and turning the ratchet-wheel II so as to cause the mutual approach of the carbons. This action compensates for the consumption of the cai-bons until the pawl allows the ratchet to escape it, the energy of the solenoid being increased,however,so quickly by the increase oi" the current due to the approach of the carbons that the pawl always catches the next succeeding` tooth of the ratchet-wheel.

I am aware that I am not the tirst lo regulate by means oi' a ratchet-wheel an eleetromagnet-controlled segmental pawl similar to the one shown in this application, butin. regulating devices ol this character it is found that when the segmental pawl is brought into action by the movement oi the solenoid-core it is quite as apt to have its teeth register with the points of the ratchet-wheel teeth as with the spaces between them, and consequently the mechanism is locked. This dillieulty is wholly obviated by mounting the segmental. pawl pivotally upon the arm attached to the rock-lever and holding it in position for action by means of a spring which yields in the event of the contact ot the points of the teeth of the pawl and ratchet-wheel, usually causing the intermeshing of the teeth, though not always.

The too abrupt action ol the core ol' the solenoid is prevented by lining the helix with a tube T, closed at its lower end, so as to constitute the cylinder of a dash-pot, oii which the core o is the plunger.

The regulating mechanism is covered by a cap Gr, secured to the plate B by means oi' a number of posts g. In practice the head ol' the lamp is oi' course inelosed, but ,l have not deemed it necessary to show the easing.

I have described the arm Q as being mounted upon the shaft 0"; but it will be seen that it is essentially a part ol the lever O. \\"hile I prefer the solenoid form ot electromagnet beca-use of the long range ol' the movement ol its core or armature and because it enables me to combine the electromagnet and the dash-pot, any other type may be employed, if desired. The form ot' pawl shown and the manner of mounting it upon the rOck-leverI regard as the best that can be devised, but any construction in which the pawl has a yielding contact with the ratchet-wheel will come within the scope olf my invention. Neither is the precise t'orm oi connection bctween the ratchet-wheel and the carlnntcar4 rier material.

I claim as my inventionl. In an electric-arc lamp the combination with a vertically-reciprecati 1 ig carbon holder, of a ratchet-wheel, mechanical connection between the holder and the wheel whereby they move together, a lever, a pawl .lo r coo perai'i n g with the ratchet and being pivotallyattached to the lever, a spring for holding the pawl te the limit of its movement upon its pivot toward the ratchet-wheel, an electronlagnet connected with the lever and adapted to move it to bring the pawl into engagement lwith the ratchet-wheel so as to raise the Aarbonholder, and a .rctractile spring acting upon the lever in opposition to the electromagnct.

In an electric-arc lamp having its electrodes drawn together by gravity, the com* bination with the carbon-carrier, ot' a ratchetwheel cooperating therewith, a lever, a pawl for cooperating with the ratchet-wheel to separate the electrodes and being movably attached to the lever, a spring for holding the pawl in its advanced position upon the lever, an electromagnet having its coil in. series with the lamp, connection between the .lever and the magnet whereby the latter tends to engage the pawl with the ratchet-wheel, and a retractile spring for opposing the action of the magnet.

In testimony whereof I aliix my signature in presence ol' two witnesses.

JOHN A. MOSIIIFLH. lVi tnesses:

Louis K. GiLLsoN, RICHARD II. WvnaN. 

